The State’s case involving Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, State employees and contractors in the Estate Management and Business Development Company Ltd (EMDB) lawsuit is now focused on a trail of text messages, which has unearthed job placements, a Housing Development Corporation house being awarded without proper procedure and cheques being collected on behalf of contractors.
The wad of text messages was filed in the High Court by the State on November 20 in a case which is focusing on alleged impropriety and collusion.
In the filed document the State will be using to argue its case against Moonilal and former EMDB CEO Gary Parmassar, it alluded to alleged improper behaviour between Parmassar and Moonilal. Contractors Namalco Construction Service Ltd, LCB Contractors Ltd, TN Ramnauth and Company Ltd, Mootilal Ramhit and Sons Contracting Ltd, Kall Company Ltd and Fides Ltd are also named as defendants, with the State moving to recover approximately $165 million.
The text messages were sought through an extraction report.
In a November 3, 2014 text message to Moonilal’s cellphone, Parmassar, who was acting EMDB CEO, allegedly asked Moonilal, who was line minister of EMBD at the time, to be appointed CEO. Another text message showed that on January 21, 2015, Parmassar forwarded his HDC reference number to Moonilal via a text message asking for assistance in obtaining a single family unit home at Oasis Green, Egypt Village, Chaguanas. At that time, Moonilal was housing minister. Paramassar was allegedly advised by Moonilal not to collect the keys to his new home at an April 26, 2015 key distribution ceremony at Oasis Green.
In two texts in December and January, Moonilal allegedly asked Parmassar to prepare cheques for two separate contractors. There were also text messages Moonilal sent to Parmassar at different times asking that jobs be given to four women.
Contacted yesterday on the allegations and information allegedly contained in the text messages, Moonilal said the allegations raised in the filed document was nothing new and it was a case of fabricated text messages to build a case against him.
“They have not been able to show screen shots of the text messages to verify by a server. They have published what they have cut and paste to create a narrative and it may be fabricated as well to suit their interest. It is very difficult. My lawyers are dealing with the matters. The question is really if anything is admissible in a court of law in the first place.”
He said the People’s National Movement (PNM) was on a political witch hunt to smear his name, adding the bigger question was whether the EMBD acted unlawfully at any time.
Saying at no time has the EMBD accused him of taking a bribe for his personal benefit, Moonilal said, “What they are accusing me of is being efficient by communicating with contractors and managers.”
As for requesting contractors’ cheques from the EMDB, Moonilal said they would have no record of such.
“That is a complete lie. What would I do with the cheques? At no time I have collected cheques.”
As for Parmassar asking to be appointed CEO, Moonilal said he did in fact express an interest, likewise other people.
“At all times there was a process for it to be done…through a board of directors. What is fascinating about this case is that they are talking about all types of crimes but they have not brought one director of the EMBD board before the court.”
Also contacted yesterday, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, who is representing Kallco, TN Ramnauth, Fides and Mootilal, said he was recently retained by these contractors and had not looked at the documents, but promised to issue a statement soon on the matter.